Bald Eagle

Gallery: AvianPosted May 20, 2010285 views26 comments

Here's one from last weekend. Every spring dozens of Bald Eagles gather at Hood Canal to fish during the low tides. They mainly catch Pacific Staghorn Sculpin - a bottomfish. This eagle is going down for a sculpin - not baited. The bottom of the image is oyster beds. This is cropped to about 65% of the original remaining.

MkIII 500F4 1.4X 1/1600 F8, evaluative metering +0.3, iso 500, handheld sitting on the rocky beach.

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on May 20, 2010 at 12:20 PM

Beautiful in-flight pose! It conveys great power and regal beauty. Awesome.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 20, 2010 at 1:08 PM

Thanks for the comments, just to clarrify Rich this is 65% of the original, so 35% cropped out.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 20, 2010 at 1:27 PM

Great action shot, Nate. I really like the powerful look of the eagle.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on May 20, 2010 at 2:28 PM

Your shot does this bird justice as the symbol of our great country!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 20, 2010 at 3:21 PM

Fantastic action shot, Nate. The oyster shells give it a great sense of place.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on May 20, 2010 at 4:05 PM

Lovely Nate! Wonderful compostion and light!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on May 20, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Awesome action shot and great work on the exposure of the head

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on May 20, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Well caught Nate and an excellent lunging pose

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on May 20, 2010 at 6:06 PM

Perfect comp and sharpness. I too like the oyster beds. Superb like always.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 20, 2010 at 6:10 PM

Nate:
Dramatic pose and nice light too.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 20, 2010 at 6:21 PM

Wonderful pose Nate, the fanned tail, extended talons and eye contact work very well. I like the oysterbeds on the bottom of the frame too.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 20, 2010 at 7:29 PM

What a pose Nate. This is so stately looking. nothing to nit onthis. I love it.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on May 20, 2010 at 9:09 PM

I saw a Bald Eagle on an oyster bank near my home a few weeks ago but he was way too far away.Very dramatic shot!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on May 20, 2010 at 11:15 PM

Beautiful landing pose with extended talons. The oysterbeds add to the scene. Nicely captured.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 21, 2010 at 12:05 AM

Impressive outstretched approach. I might try increasing the light in the shadow under the wing just a bit, but that's really a minor issue on a superb photo.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 21, 2010 at 5:05 AM

Killer Photo Nate

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 21, 2010 at 8:19 AM

Great wing position and intensity Nate

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on May 21, 2010 at 8:38 AM

Great pose and capture Nate!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 21, 2010 at 8:58 AM

Great action Nate. I can see why you had so much fun.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 21, 2010 at 9:36 AM

Brilliant, Nate!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Tim Stenning on May 21, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Nate, can you give me a tip as to the best locations on Hood Canal? I think I'll wonder over there soon.

Registered on March 26, 2006, 99 Posts, 343 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 21, 2010 at 9:20 PM

Love that look of intention. Really cool. I'm glad you left just enough of the bottom to show the landing strip

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 21, 2010 at 10:13 PM

Awesome action shot this, Nate! The intent look in the eagle's eyes, the talons, and the swept-back wings make this a dynamic image. I only wish there was more detail in the underwing, though.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 22, 2010 at 9:05 AM

This is a great shot, Nate. Nice work.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on May 22, 2010 at 9:16 AM

What a terrific pose on this guy! Very nice, and I like the strip on the bottom.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 22, 2010 at 9:17 PM

I agree with all the accolades, but, and maybe it is just me, the whole image looks just a tad too dark. I think the head should be just a bit whiter. Looks kind of grey here. Lightening it up a tad also might bring out some more detail under the wing.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments